Take time to vote, honor veterans next week

By State Sen. Carlos Uresti

Published 5:35 pm, Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Next week you will have two opportunities to make a difference in someone's life, perhaps even your own.

On Tuesday, Texas voters will decide the fate of 10 proposed constitutional amendments that touch on a wide range of issues. All of them are important, but four in particular deserve your attention and your vote on Election Day.

Proposition 1 follows up on an amendment approved four years ago granting a full property tax exemption to veterans who are 100 percent disabled from their military service. The exemption would be extended to the veteran's surviving spouse.

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Supporting Proposition 1 is just the right thing to do.

With much of Texas lingering in a devastating drought, Proposition 2 would take a step toward a more stable future in terms of water supplies. It would increase the bonding authority of the Texas Water Development Board, to a maximum of $6 billion, allowing for better planning and critical infrastructure upgrades.

Proposition 3 would expand access to fixed interest rate loans for Texas college students. The Hinson-Hazlewood College Access Loan Program has provided low-interest loans to more than 340,000 students since 1965, and this initiative would allow even more students to fulfill the dream of going to college.

Proposition 6 would allow more revenues from the Permanent School Fund to be spent on public education without harming the endowment's principal. Money for this fund comes from state land and mineral rights, and it is used to fund classroom instructional materials and technology to school districts on a per-student basis.

Passage of this amendment would provide some much needed relief to Texas school districts grappling with a $4 billion budget cut.

Constitutional amendment elections typically don't attract much voter interest. Secretary of State Hope Andrade predicts that only about 8 percent of registered voters will turn out. I urge voters across District 19 to prove her wrong.

Many people don't believe there is much at stake for them in a constitutional amendment election. Obviously this is not the case. If you want a secure water supply, an adequate public education system and some financial help sending your children to college, this is one election you shouldn't pass up.

For more information on all 10 proposed amendments, go to the Secretary of State's website at www.sos.state.tx.us.

Now, about that second opportunity to make a difference.

Nov. 11 is Veterans Day, the day we set aside to honor the brave Americans who fought to keep us free. If there is a veteran in your family or living next door, don't let the day pass without telling them how proud and grateful you are for their sacrifice.